Human Resources Manager salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Human Resources Managers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $220,460 a year ($105.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $124,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $397,910 for the top 10%. That is 48% higher than the national median of $149,280. Pay here is 30% higher than the California statewide median of $170,080. There are 2.5 human resources managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $257,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources managers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $124,990 | $60.09 |
| 25th percentile | $168,530 | $81.03 |
| Median | $220,460 | $105.99 |
| 75th percentile | $307,460 | $147.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $397,910 | $191.30 |
| Average (mean) | $257,750 | $123.92 |
Half of human resources managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $18,371.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $9,185.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $8,479.23 |
| Weekly | $4,239.62 |
| Hourly | $105.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Manager salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $209,340 | 4,960 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $168,400 | 9,070 |
| Napa, CA | $167,490 | 120 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $165,160 | 210 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $164,570 | 130 |
| Vallejo, CA | $163,560 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,190 | 2,300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $162,230 | 380 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $161,550 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $155,360 | 1,300 |
| Modesto, CA | $153,630 | 150 |
| Merced, CA | $153,210 | 70 |
| Salinas, CA | $150,390 | 150 |
| Redding, CA | $143,330 | 50 |
| Yuba City, CA | $143,210 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $143,180 | 400 |
| Visalia, CA | $142,320 | 120 |
| Chico, CA | $139,830 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $139,010 | 1,630 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $138,130 | 240 |
| El Centro, CA | $137,930 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $136,410 | 260 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $129,710 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for human resources managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184,350 |
| Massachusetts | $181,780 |
| New York | $176,650 |
| New Jersey | $172,440 |
| California | $170,080 |
| Rhode Island | $167,110 |
| Colorado | $166,400 |
| Virginia | $165,980 |
| Connecticut | $165,930 |
| Washington | $165,530 |
See Human Resources Manager pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $291,660 | $140.22 |
| Financial Manager | $225,280 | $108.31 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $137,820 | $66.26 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $171,140 | $82.28 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $177,400 | $85.29 |
| Facilities Manager | $145,000 | $69.71 |
| Training and Development Managers | $230,020 | $110.59 |
| Purchasing Manager | $198,980 | $95.66 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $215,180 | $103.45 |
| General and Operations Managers | $163,860 | $78.78 |
| Managers, All Other | $217,280 | $104.46 |
| Sales Manager | $201,780 | $97.01 |
| Marketing Manager | $231,370 | $111.24 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $234,590 | $112.78 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-3121. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources manager make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for human resources managers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $220,460 a year, or $105.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $124,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $397,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources managers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of human resources managers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $397,910 a year. The top 25% earn $307,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources managers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $124,990 a year, and a quarter of human resources managers earn $168,530 or less.
How many human resources managers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 2,800 human resources managers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.